Hat-brim conformator curling-machine.



C. E. SAGKETT. HAT BRIM GONFORMATOR GURLING MAGHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY zo. 1909.

Patented- Oct. 4, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. E. SACKBTT.

HAT BEIM GONFORMATOR CURLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JULY 20v. 1909.

`Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

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HAT BEIM GONFORMATOR GURLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JILLY 20. 1909.

$566 Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

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` 5 SHEETS- [Nl/ENTOR WTNESSES: L

C. B. SAGKETT. HAT BEIM GONFORMATOR GURLING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY zo, 1909.

Patented C. 4, 1910.

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C. E. SAGKETT. HAT BEIM GONPORMATOR GURLING MAGHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 20, 1909. I l 971,566. Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

W'ITNESSES:

CHARLES E. SACKETT, OF IDANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

HAT-BEIM CONFORMATOR CUR-LING-MACHINE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Uct. e, 1910.

Apphcation 'filed July 20, 1909. Serial No. 508,577.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be itl known that l, @Hannes E. Sacxn'r'r, a citizen of the Unit-ed States, residing at Danbury, in the county ot Fairfield and State ot Connecticut, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in Hat-Brun Coni'oii'mator Curling-Machines, ot' which the following is a specification.

rlfhis invention relates to machines tor curling hat brims.

lu the manufacture of hats, the brims while in a tlat state require an edge curl formed upon them preparatory to the flanging or finishing' process. The machine here shown is especially designed for curling the brims of sott hats, though applicable in modified torm to stift' hats. rlhis process is now generally performed by machines lwhich curl a small section of the brim at a time, the operator revolving and guiding the hat brim through a heated shoe. Unless great care and skill is exercised there is no unit'orinity as to width or diameter of brim, or shape ot' curl, the machines exercising no control in this respect.

lt is the object ot this invention to correct this feature, to give an absolutely uniform curl, graded as to size of hats, and width and diameter oft brim; to form the curl all at once, and generally to save time, labor and expense in the process.

My invention consists, first: in an open circular steam pot for steaming, and thereby softening the stittening matter in that peripheral section of the hat brim which it is designed to curl all at once. Secondly: in an automatic holding member which retains and protects trom the steam that portion ot the brim which it is not desired to curl. Thirdly: in an automatic cont'oi'mator series of lingers which box the hat brim all around its periphery, and are made automatically contractible by means of a coiled spring surrounding them. Fourthly: in a single lever movement which brings the holding member and fingers into action, expanding or contracting the ngers automatically by a vertically reciprocal movementupon the machine. These elements, their movement, and the mechanism by which they are actuated, separately and collectively, will be hereinafter described and claimed.

@n the 18th of May, 1909, U. S. Pat-ent No. 929,190 was issued to me, having the same title as the present application, and for a similar purpose, but in that invention the conformator lingers were attached to a stationary platform surrounding a bed matrix, and they were expanded or contracted, not by their own niovement, but by an entering wedge which displaced them. The tingers had no part in forming the curl themselves, but merely helped to bring the portion of telt to be curled under the action of a separate curling member. ln this invention the lingers themselves do the curling in a direct, simple, and expeditious manner.

In the lirst steaming ot the peripheral section of the hat brim designed to be curled, I use an open steam pot similar to that for which l tiled Serial application No. 470,816, on February Sth, 1909; also Serial Application No. 486,520, tiled March 29th, 1909, both ot which applications were adapted to stili hatting, and except to the steam pot bear no relation to the present mechanism which is fully described in the following specification, and illustrated on the accompanying live sheets ot' drawings. in which- Figure l, is a side elevation; Fig. 2, is a cross section through the lateral center ot Fig. l. Fig. 3, is a partial cross section on the saine line, showing a hat in position ready to curl. Fig. 4E, is the same view, the hat brim being curled. Figs. 3 and Ll, apply to hat brims being curled on the lower side,

y crowns up, for welting purposes. Fig. 5,

shows a hat brim being curled on the upper side ot the brim as generally used, crowns down. Fig. G, shows a mechanical arrangement for expanding the fingers independently ot the lever movement, which is also shown in section in Fig. 5. Fig. 7, is a plan view et this arrangement. Figs. S, 9, l0 and l1, are enlarged detail views of the progressive curling action from start to linish on a welting curl. Fig. l2, is a detail view oit a full halt round curl finished.

ln all the views like numerals relate to like parts.

l. is a suitable machine frame; 2. a platform supported by it.

3. is an open steam pot (see sectional Fig. 2), supported from the platform by a flange Ll, the steam pot has an oval center space 5, adapted to receive the crown of a hat G, (see Figs. 5 and G), this space is surrounded by an .inner vertical wall 7, and an outer vertical wall S, depending from the supportingftlange 4l, and leaving an open steam space between the walls which are joined by a bottom floor tapped at 9, to receive inlet steam pipes, and at 10, for outlet drip pipes; about midway of the pot is arranged a perforated battle plate 11, to distribute the steam evenly, and prevent the eruption of condensed water, the steam vapor escapes freely at the open top of the pot.

Removably mounted on the top of the inner wali of the steam pot, is a flat templet plate 12; there are a series of these plates, each advancing in diameter by 1/8th of an inch to match the different sizes of hat brims; they have common pin holes 13, so as to be interchangeably secured to the steam pot wall, and their edges are shaped to a full or part curl as may be desired. On either side of the steam pot flange guide posts 1e', are bedded in the machine frame, and joined at top by a head stay 15, a ring frame 16, with side boxes and outer bearings 17, is slidably mounted upon the guide posts, the ring frame is crossed centrally between the guide posts by a bridge member 18, which is secured to it by bolts 19. The bridge member is perforated vertically to receive the sliding rods 59; the rods are connected above the bridge member by a plate 20, as in Fig. 2, or are provided with lifting collar nuts 21, as in Figs. 1, 5 and 6. The sliding rods terminate at bottom a suitable distance below the bridge member in a ring plate 22; spiral springs 23 are interposed between the bridge member and the ring plate around the rods; the above mechanism constitutes an elastic holding member, it being evident that when the ring plate descends upon the templet plate, or a hat brim interposed between them, that the further descent of the bridge member then begins to compress the springs, exerting increasing pressure as the bridge descends, and that the bridge member has an extensive rise or fall vertically without the holding member releasing the hat brim for purposes hereinafter explained. The ring frame 16, is constructed with a bottom flange 2st, strengthened by a circular wall 9.5; to the bottoni of the flange is centrally bolted a hanging ring 26, recessed and shaped as shown in section in Fig. 2, adapting it to be secured to the ring frame by bolts 27, and to support pivotally a. series of depending vertical fingers 28, arranged side and side all around the pivotal ring as shown in elevation and section in Figs. 1 and 2. The upper ends of the finge rs terminate in hooks Q9, allowing easy removal or substitution; the lower end of each of the fingers is shaped at 30, into a formative foot adapted to bend, stretch, and roll under the templet plate a projecting hat brim as shown in enlarged detail Figs. 8 to 12, which also show their progressive movement.

About midway of the fingers at 28, socket is formed outwardly, to receive preferably a close coiled steel spring 58, though any other elastic medium of suitable strength will answer. r1`he ring plate QQ, is oval and is of the standard shape of the smallest size of hat brim in general use; against its outer face the heels of the conformator fingers always rest when not in action; the bridge y member when ascending always picking up the ring plate, by means of the lifting nuts, and leaving it at the bottom level of the fingers. Then descending the fingers after leaving the ring plate, bear upon and impress their shape around the edge of the templet plate, see Figs. S to 1Q.

The conformator fingers are made very narrow so as to accommodate themselves to any circle; when in a state of rest as in Figs. 1 and 2, bearing against the ring plate, their interior forms a closed box, their expansion covering the usual range of nine hat sizes does not open the joints to any great extent, so that virtually the whole hat brim in its softened state, is rolled around the templet periphery by the descending fingers forming a continuous metallic surface. A series of fingers so arranged is known as a conformator.

The ring frame bearings 1T, are tapped to receive shoulder nuts 31, on which are journaled depending side bars 32, passing downward outside the machine frame, and journaled at their lower extremities on shoulder nuts 33, tapped into the extremities of cranks 34, made fastl at their fulcrum ends to a shaft 35, arranged laterally and centrally in boxes 36, made fast to the machine frame below the steam pot. fit one end of the shaft is made fast an operating lever 37, and at its other end a balancing arm 3S, with an adjustable weight 39.

By reference to Fig. 1, it will be readily seen that when the lever 37, is drawn forward, the cranks 34, are depressed, thereby drawing down the side bars 32, and the ring frame 13, the length of the side bars are so adjusted that when the ring frame and its curling mechanism are in proper curling position with the templet plate, the end bearings of the side bars 31 and 33, are in a direct line above and below the lever fulcrum 35, thereby setting up a self locking mechanism until the lever is reversed.

Upon each guide post is arranged an adjustable screw collar as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which limits the descent of the iingers into the steam pot to just such point as is best suited to shape the curl in hand. The screw collars consist of a sleeve L10, outwardly threaded and pinned fast to the guide posts; this sleeve is surrounded by another Z11, inwardly threaded to match. A slight turn of the outward collar gives a fine vertical adjustment, resisting the descent of the ring frame.

Although the conformator fingers as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, are automatically contractible and expansible in their vertical movement, requiring only the moven'lent of the operating lever, there are some styles of curls, or at times a curl in which the lingers might in their upward movement drag the felt clear of the templet plate instead of sliding over it. To guard against this, l show in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, a mechanical movement for expanding the fingers, which may be used previous to the upward movement of the lever when occasion requires it. rl`his movement consists in litting each of the lingers with a thin extension piece 42, projecting inwardly from the top extremity of the lingers as shown sectionally in Figs. 5 and 6, and in plan in Fig. 7. A depression plate 43 is supported above the ends oll these extension pieces by a vertical rod 44, which is centered in a tubular recess in the bridge member, which is shouldered at 45, to support a spiral spring 4G, surrounding the rod. rlhe rod is threaded at its upper extremity and supplied with a shouldered nut 4T, adapted to exert a compressive force upon the spring sullicient to support the depression plate when not in use; between the plate and the bridge member is interposed a pair of expansion disks 48 and 49, which are centered on the rod 44; one disk being made fast to both the rod and the depression plate, the other disk revolving about the rod and being supplied with a lever handle 50, (see Figs. G and '7); a movement of the handle a hall:l revolution laterally will either depress or raise the depression plate, thereby mechanically expanding the foot of the conlormator lingers, or leaving' them free to expand automatically by the movement of the controlling lever 37.

The operation of the machine is as lollows: llVhen it is desired to curl a hat brim for welting as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a thin templet plate 51, supplied with a short hat block 52, is laid upon the templet plate proper or the hat block may be allixed directly to the templet plate; the hat is then centered upon the hat block, the steam pot is connected to its source of steam supply by pipe 53, and the steam admission is regulated by valve 54, and the lever 55, controlled by the spring 5G, and ratchet 57, (see Figs. l and 2). lJllhen the hat is in place the operating lever is drawn forward, which brings the holding member down upon the brim covering it except at the projecting peripheral section which is to be curled, and which extends over the open space in the steam pot; steam is now admitted to the pot and rises about the hat brim until its stillening material is sott enough to take a new shape, when the operating lever is still lurther depressed causing the bridge member to compress the spiral springs above the holding member, and the ring :trame to push the conformator lingers down into the steam pot,

carrying with them the projecting hat brim, and by the 1 automatic expansive and contractive movement, stretching', rolling, and comvressing the soft hat brim around and below the edge ot' the templet plate, thereby causing it to take its shape. The lever is now raised, the contormator lingers pass upward to their place against the holding member, which in turn releases the hat brim, the hat is then removed to the welting machine, carrying with it the thin templet plate 51, which is necessary to the process of welting, and which usually is inserted by hand or the hat is curled upon the templetplate proper, and then removed.

ln the case of a hat to be supplied on the upper side of the brim, with the usual half round curl, (see Figs. 5 and (i), the hat is inserted in the templet plate proper, crown downward, the operating lever' shapes the curl as before described, and if for any reason it is desired to expand the contormator lingers mechanically before raising them, the disk lever 50, is given a halt turn laterally when the lingers at toot will assume the position shown in Fig, (i, and may be raised without rubbing against the felt of the hat brim.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. ln a hat brim curling machine, the combination of a machine frame; a platform supported by said frame; a steam potopen to the upper atmosphere, centered in, supported by, and depending from said plattorm; said steam pot having inner and outer vertical. walls, and a central opening through said steam pot adapted to receive the crown et a hat; a steam space between said walls,

meansl to supply steam in adjustable quantities; a tomplet plate adapted to support the brim ot a hat removably mounted upon the inner vertical wall of said steam pot; the peripheral edge of said templet plate being shaped to form a reversed curl upon the edge of a hat brim; said templet plate extending over the open steam space in said steam pot, and supporting a hat brim projecting all around said templet plate into said steam space.

2. ln a hat brim curling machine, the combination of a machine frame; a supported platform; an open steam pot depending from and supported by said platform; a templet plate removably mounted upon the inner wall of said steam pot; vertical guide posts rising from said platform on each side of said steam pot; a ring trame provided with sliding boxes, and outer hub bearings mounted upon said guide posts; connecting side bars journaled at their upper ends upon said hub bearings; a shalt centrally ar anged in boxes made fast to said machine frame below said steam pot; cranks made fast to said shaft at their fulcrum ends, their extremities being provided with bearings to which the lower end of said connecting bars are ournaled; an operating lever attached to one end of said shaft, an arm carrying a balance weight attached to the other end of said shaft, whereby a balanced vertical reciprocal movement is given to said ring frame to and from said templet plate and steam pot.

3. In a hat brim curling machine, the combination of a machine frame; a supported platform; an open steam pot supported by said platform; a templet floor plate removably mounted upon the inner wall of said steam pot; said plate having a central opening adapted to receive the crown of a hat; a ring frame slidably mounted upon said machine frame having a vertical reciprocatory movement to and from said templet plate; a bridge member mounted upon and centrally crossing said ring frame; guide rods passing upward through said bridge member; said rods being made fast at their lower ends to a ring plate adapted to press upon said templet plate or any interposed material; said rods having lifting nuts at their upper extremities; by which said ring plate is given a reciprocating movement to and from said templet plate by the same means as actuates the movement of said ring frame.

4t. ln a hat brim curling machine, the combination of a machine frame; a supported platform, an open steam pot centered in said platform; a templet plate removably mounted upon said steam pot; a ring plate adapted to press upon said templet plate; guide rods ascending from said ring plate and passing through a bridge member made fast to a ring frame having a vertical reciprocal movement upon said machine frame to and from said templet plate; spiral springs surrounding said guide rods and interposed between said bridge member and said ring plate, thereby exerting an elastic pressure upon said ring plate when in contact with said templet plate as a holding member, while said ring frame is free to exert a further reciprocating movement independent of said ring plate.

5. In a hat brim curling machine, the combination of a machine frame; a supported platform; an open steam pot centered in said platform; a templet plate removably mounted upon said steam pot; a ring plate adapted to press upon said templet plate; a ring frame arranged above said templet plate having a vertical reciprocal movement to and from it, and a circular member secured to the lower side of said ring frame constructed with a pivotal ring adapted to support a series of conformator lingers depending from said ring` frame, and moving with it to and from said templet plate.

6. In a hat brim curling machine, the combination of a machine frame; a supported platform; vertical guide posts rising from said platform; a ring frame slidably mounted on said guide posts and having a vertical reciprocal movement to and from said platform; a pivotal ring supported by and below said ring frame; a series of vertical conforinator fingers arranged side and side around said pivotal ring; said fingers being adapted to hook over said pivotal ring at their upper end, to admit of ready removal or substitution, and to have a radial vibratory movement upon it.

7. In a hat brim curling machine, the combination of a machine frame; a supported platform; a templet floor plate centered upon and supported by said platform; a ring plate adapted to press upon said templet plate; said ring plate having vertical sides; and a vertical reciprocal movement to and from said templet plate; a series of vertical conformator fingers arranged side and side around said ring plate; said fingers being adapted at their lower ends to slide vertically upon the vertical sides of said ring plate.

S. in a hat brim curling machine; the combination of a machine frame; a supported platform; a templet floor plate centered upon and support-ed by said platform; vertical guide posts rising from said platform; a ring frame slidably mounted upon said guide posts, and having a vertical reciprocal movement to and from said templet plate; a ring plate having vertical sides arranged above and adapted to press upon said templet plate; a pivotal ring arranged above said ring plate and secured to the bottom of said ring frame; a series of vertical conformator fingers hooked side and side at their upper ends upon said pivotal ring, their lower ends being arranged around the vertical sides of said ring plate; a .common socket construct-ed midway outwardly in each of said fingers, and an elastic band arranged in said sockets surrounding all of said fingers exerting a compressive force upon them against the vertical sides of said ring plate which forms conformator barrier to the lower ends of said fingers.

9. ln a hat brim curling machine, the combination of a machine frame; a supported platform; an open steam pot centered in and supported by said platform; said steam pot having inner and outer vertical walls with an open steam space between them; a templet floor plate removably mounted upon the inner wall of said steam pot, its periphery extending over said open steam space between said walls; a ring plate arranged above said templet plate adapted to press upon it; a ring frame arranged above said ring plate slidably mounted upon said machine frame, and having a vertical reciprocal movement to and from said templet plate; a series of vertical conformator lingers pivotally supported by said ring frame on a circular ring belo-w it and having a vertical movement with it; said fingers being surrounded by an elastic band exerting pressure upon them; said fingers at their lower extremity bearing against the vertical sides of said ring plate, and adapted by the dowmvard movement of said ring frame to be expanded by the periphery of said templet plate as they slide over it, and to automatically contract themselves below said templet plate, thereby conforming any properly softened material extending beyond the edge of said templet plate to the peripheral shape of the templet plate.

l0. ln hat brim curling machine, the combination of a machine frame; a supported platform, vertical guide posts rising from said platform; a ring frame slidably mounted upon said guide posts and having a 'vertical reciprocal movement to and from said platform, and an adjustable fast and loose collar threaded together secured to said guide posts whereby turning the loose collar forms an adjustable limit to the descent of said ring frame toward said platform.

l1. ln a hat brim curling machine, the combination of a machine frame; a platform; a steam pot open to the upper atmosphere supported by said platform; a templet plate supported by said steam pot adapted to receive the crown of a hat, its brim resting upon said templet plate and projecting beyond. it; a series of vertical conformator fingers elastically controlled surrounding said templet plate; said lingers having a vertical reciprocal movement adapting them to be expanded by said templet plate; said fingers having their lower extremities shaped to roll the projecting` section of said hat brim around the edge of said templet plate, and to automatically compress it below said templet plate.

12. ln a hat brim curling machine, the combination of a series of vertical vibratory lingers radially arranged about a common center, said fingers surrounding a templet plate upon which a hat brim is centered; said lingers being pivoted at their upper ends upon a suitable supporting ring; stayed to a minimum vibration at their lower ends by a suitable stay ring, and made elastically expansible and contractible by means of an elastic band secured in a socket common to all of them and exerting a uniform compressive force upon each of them means to lower or raise said fingers below or above the periphery of said templet plate., said fingers being automatically expanded by contact with the edges of said templet plate, said fingers being supplied with projections which automatically contract below the periphery of said templet plate.

13. ln a hat brim curling machine, the combination of a machine frame; a platform; a steam pot permanently centered in and supported by said platform, a templet plate centered upon and supported by said steam pot, said templet plate being adapted to support the brim of a hat, centered upon it, and projecting all around it over said steam pot; a vertically elastic holding member compressing said hat brim upon said templet plate, and a vertically reciprocal expansible and contractible curling member adapted to curl the projecting edge of said hat brim around the periphery of said templetJ plate while exposed to the action of steam from said steam pot.

let. In a hat brim curling machine, the combination of a machine frame; a platform, a templet plate supported by said platform adapted to support the brim of a hat centered upon it; a ring frame arranged above said templet plate having a vertical reciprocal movement upon said machine frame to and from said templet plate; a holding member adapted to compress said hat brim upon said templet plate supported by and having a vertical reciprocal movement with said ring frame; a curling member adapted to curl said hat brim about the periphery of said templet plate, supported by said ring frame and having a vertical reciprocal movement with it; and a lever operating said ring frame, said holding member and said curling member, in conjunction to curl said hat brim, by a single movement of said lever.

15. ln a hat brim curling machine, the combination of a series of vertical vibratory lingers radially arranged about a common center; said fingers being pivoted at their upper ends upon a suitable supporting ring, stayed to a minimum vibration at their lower ends by a suitable stay ring said fingers being made elastically contractible and expansible by means of an elastic band secured in a socketcommon to all of them, a templet plate which said vibratory lingers are adapted to encircle, means to bring said fingers in contact with the edges of said templet plate, thereby expanding said fingers automatically, and projections on said fingers adapted to automatically contract below the edge of said templet plate, and exerting a uniform compressive force upon each of them, with means to expand said lingers simultaneously by a separate mechanism.

16. In a hat brim curling machine, the combination of a machine frame; a platform; a templet plate supported by said platform; a ring frame slidably mounted upon said machine frame above said templet plate and having a vertical reciprocal movement to and from it; a bridge member centrally mounted upon said ring frame; a series of conformator fingers elastically controlled depending from said ring frame; said fingers being automatically contractible around and below the periphery of said templet plate; a projection extending radially inward from the top of each finger; a depression plate mounted upon the eX- tremity of said projections; a vertical shaft to which said plate is secured passing upward through a spiral spring recessed against a shoulder in said bridge member; said shaft being threaded at its upper end and provided with a shoulder nut adapted to press upon said spring and retain said depression plate elastically in position; a pair of segmental screw disks adapted to slide upon each other centered upon the said vertical shaft and interposed between said bridge n ember and said depression plate; one disl being made fast to said plate and shaft; the other revolving loose upon said shaft; and provided with a lever handle, the

movement of which depresses said plate and i expands said lingers at their lower extremity simultaneously.

17. In a hat brim curling machine, the combination of a machine frame, a platform, a steam pot open to the upper atmos phere supported by said platform, said steam pot having inner and outer walls, a series of removable templet plates adapted to support a hat brim positioned upon said inner wall; with means common to said wall and all of said templet plates to render them interchangeable, a series of automatically contractible fingers; adapted to encircle the periphery of said templet plate and to be expanded by it, means for positioning said fingers above or below said templet plate arranged above it, and means to mechanically expand said fingers to release said templet plate.

1S. ln a hat brim curling machine; the combination of a machine frame; a platform supported thereon; a steam pot open to the upper atmosphere centered in and supported by said platform; templet plate supported by said steam pot adapted to support a hat brim having a projecting section all around said templet plate exposed to the atmosphere, a series of conformator fingers arranged above said steam pot and adapted to descend therein; means to soften the stiffening matteil in said projecting section simultaneously by the admission of steam to said steam pot, means of quick escape for the resultant vapor, and means to curl the projecting section of said hat brim after softening around and below the periphery of said templet plate simultaneously by the descent of the said conformator fingers into sait. steam pot.

19. fn a hat brim curling machine, the combination of a machine frame a supported platform; and a supported templet floor plate; as stationary members; with a ring frame; a holding member; and a curling member, having a vertical reciprocal movement toward said templet door plate; of a self locking lever mechanism by which said stationary members; are retained in compressive conjunction with said movable members, automatically and indefinitely, by a single movement of the lever.

In testimony whereof; Criss. E. Saonnrr has signed his name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 16th day of July 1909.

CEAS. E. SACKETT. `Witnesses JAMES P. WILSON, E. B. VVILsoN. 

